Jerry Rice is one of the most legendary athletes in sports history. Dominating the NFL for 20 seasons at the wide receiver position.
Originally teaming up with Joe Montana to form a nearly unstoppable offensive duo, Rice would help the 49ers win 3 Super Bowls during the 16 seasons he spent with the franchise.
He finished his career with 22,895 receiving yards. The most in NFL history and more than 5,000 yards ahead of the next highest total. And 197 receiving touchdowns, also the most in NFL history. Rice was a 13-time pro bowler and is tied for the most 1st Team All-Pro selections with 10 for his career.
Due to his incredible career and massive popularity. Football cards featuring Rice possess much value in the market.
Below are the 8 top Jerry Rice cards that individuals should look to add to their collection. As well as some extra memorabilia items.
8. 1987 Topps Jerry Rice Sticker Cards #61
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $250
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $50
While Fleer often gets the most attention for sticker cards in the ’80s. Topps also produced plenty of sticker cards throughout the decade.
The 1987 Topps Stickers set featured cards with slightly smaller dimensions than regular sports cards. Measuring 2 and 1/8 inches by 3 inches.
The #61 version features a picture of Rice on the front of the card with no other information listed. The rear of the card contains Rice’s name, and little else concerning him or the 49ers. Instead choosing to advertise a special offer for a set of Topps cards.
7. 1987 Topps Jerry Rice #115
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $450
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $35
Although not nearly as valuable as his rookie card from the year before. The 1987 Topps 2nd-year card featuring Rice is still a good addition to any collection.
Two notable features of the card are its radical overall design change from the previous year. Also, the great action photo of Rice attempting to throw the ball as a part of a trick play featured on the card’s front. The front of the card contains a white border. With most text information contained at the top of the card instead of the bottom.
The top left of the card contains the word 49ers in white bolded, thick-style text within a red banner. While the top right of the card contains Rice’s name in a yellow banner.
The back of the card lists some of Rice’s early career accomplishments and season stats for his first 2 NFL seasons in a mostly orange background.
6. 1999 Topps Chrome Refractor #50
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $1,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $185
The 1999 Topps Chrome Refractor #50 card is one of the few cards that combines a simplistic layout with a beautiful, ornate design.
The front of the card contains a shiny, rainbow-tinted background. And presents a photo of Rice running down the field with the football. The only other information contained on the front of the card are the words Topps Chrome. This is listed on the top left, along with Jerry Rice and San Francisco 49ers, listed at the bottom.
The back of the card lists Rice’s career stats from 1985 to 1998, as well as the totals for his career. One nice feature of this card is that any time Rice led the conference in a specific receiving stat, the font is listed in red italics.
5. 1994 Topps Finest Refractor #12
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $3,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $500
The 1994 Topps Finest Refractor #12 card is one of the earliest refractor cards in existence. As these types of cards were first introduced into the market in 1993.
The #12 card featuring Rice pictures him running with the football on the card’s front, in the midst of a shiny, rainbow-tinted background. The word Finest is listed at the top of the card. With Rice’s name at the bottom, both written in gold font.
The rear of the card contains another picture of Rice. Showing him about to catch a pass, while also listing his stats from the 1993 season and noting that Rice became the NFL’s all-time receiving TD leader that season.
4. 1986 McDonald’s Rookie Card – No Number
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $5,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $750
The 1986 McDonald’s rookie card featuring Rice was originally part of a set released in San Francisco-area McDonald’s restaurants in 1986 for several weeks.
While some collectors question whether it is a true rookie card since it wasn’t a part of an official card set like Topps and had a limited distribution. Many others consider it a rookie card since it was released in 1986.
The front of the card contains a picture of Rice running with the football. With a McDonald’s logo, 49ers helmet, NFL shield, and NFL Players Association logo contained in the 4 corners of the photo.
Rice’s name, position, and team are listed below the photo. With a scratch-off coupon at the very bottom of the card’s front.
The rear of the card contains a large amount of player biography, draft, and statistical information.
3. 2018 Panini Kaboom! Gold #K-JR
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $7,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $2,500
The Panini Kaboom series is a widely popular card set. It employs a cartoon style similar to a comic book throughout the card instead of traditional in-game action photos.
The #K-JR card shows Rice catching a pass, picturing him in a computer-generated cartoon image format. The front of the card showcases a shiny, metallic refractor background with star-shaped outlines. While the word Kaboom is written on the front and back of the card in a bolded, thick-style font.
While the base version of the card is a nice card in its own right. The real value is in the gold version of the card – if you can find it! The Gold contains the same basic design, but with a beautiful, gold color scheme.
2. 2015-2016 Panini Flawless Autograph Jersey Gold #GPDA-JR
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $50,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $25,000
A mainstay in the luxury card market. The Panini Flawless series hit a home run, or better yet, threw a touchdown pass, with its Autograph Jersey Gold version card featuring Rice.
The card’s front features two separate jersey patches on the left and right side. With a picture of Rice placed in between them.
Rice’s signature is positioned near the bottom of the card, beneath his picture. With gold lettering and banners listing other relevant information including the Panini Flawless brand name.
The rear of the card contains a career retrospective of Rice. Listing some of his accomplishments and records. This is a nice addition for a relic card, which typically don’t contain much player information.
1. 1986 Topps Jerry Rice Rookie Card #161
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $75,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $1,750
The oldest and only “official” rookie card featuring him. The 1986 Topps #161 card is the most valuable Jerry Rice card in existence.
It is quality that counts with this one. With has an impressive price tag in PSA 10 condition. It is one of the most sought-after football cards of the ’80s. With only 60 versions of this card being assigned a Gem Mint condition of 10 by PSA. There are plenty of these cards around in lower grades though.
The front of the card features a simple yet colorful design, with a green border interspersed with white stripes. Inside the green border, is another yellow border, which directly outlines the photo of Rice, who is pictured in his 49ers gear, looking back. Presumably at the line of scrimmage while getting positioned before a play begins.
Underneath the photo, Rice’s name is listed in a red banner, with a blue banner containing the 49ers’ name diagonally intersecting the red banner near the right side of the card’s edge.
The back of the card contains a white insert positioned diagonally within a yellow background. With the insert containing Rice’s season stats and accomplishments from his rookie season.
Bonus Memorabilia Items
Jerry Rice has plenty of great memorabilia items other than sports cards available for all kinds of collectors that can be purchased on sportsmemorabilia.com.
A great option is an autographed 16-inch by 20-inch framed photo of Jerry Rice scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV, retailing for $239.99. Another framed photo features close-up shots of both Rice and Joe Montana. Standing next to each other, with the picture autographed by both teammates, selling for $499.99.
Several footballs autographed by Rice are also available. With most ranging in price from about $400 to $750, depending on the product specifications.
An autographed helmet, which make a great centerpiece in any collection, can also be purchased. Most of the low to mid-tier autographed helmets range in price from $500 to $1,000. While the higher-tier helmets range from $1,500 to $3,000.
Autographed jerseys retail from around $550 to $1,000. With the more expensive jerseys being those that are displayed in a framed format. Finally, another great option for collectors, especially NFL-history fans, is an autographed Super Bowl XXIII program, which can be purchased for $290.99.
When I was just starting out with my card collection, I had lots of questions about authenticity, trading, and card conditions. But with not that much information available online, I felt quite alone in my queries. Some questions still haven’t been answered to this day.
This site aims to rectify this, and now, I am passing on my knowledge!
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